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Seattle Seahawks: Jared Allen comes to town

By Bob CondottaSeattle Times

Posted:
03/17/2014 12:01:00 AM CDT

Updated:
03/17/2014 07:58:05 AM CDT

Vikings defensive end Jared Allen raises his arms and looks to the fans after sacking Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the second quarter at Wembley Stadium in London, England, Sunday, September 29, 2013. (Pioneer Press: Chris Polydoroff)

The Seattle Seahawks lost a key member of their defense Sunday when cornerback Walter Thurmond signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the New York Giants.

They also showed, though, that they aren't done making possible additions, even if they have been pretty quiet since the NFL free-agent signing period began Tuesday.

Defensive end Jared Allen, who earned a reputation as one of the best pass rushers in the NFL during a 10-year career with Minnesota and Kansas City, visited the Seahawks over the weekend, a league source confirmed. Allen was reported to have returned home and also expected to take other visits, with no decision imminent.

It's also been reported that Allen, who turns 32 in April, may retire if he doesn't get the kind of offer he wants.

If the Seahawks were to agree to a deal with Allen, he would be the first significant non-Seahawk free agent to sign.

As of Sunday night, Seattle had signed just one free agent from another team--receiver Taylor Price, most recently of Jacksonville and who has not played since 2011 while dealing with injuries.

That Seattle hasn't been real active hasn't been unexpected since the conventional wisdom heading into free agency held that the Seahawks likely wouldn't be major players.

Coming off a Super Bowl title and with a young roster, Seattle's main goal heading into the offseason appeared to be keeping its team as intact as possible for the 2014 season and beyond.

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And that meant managing the salary cap in a manner to be able to give contract extensions over the next year to foundation pieces such as safety Earl Thomas, cornerback Richard Sherman and quarterback Russell Wilson.

The relative lack of activity has Seattle with $14.2 million left in salary-cap space for 2014, 15th of the 32 NFL teams.

It has been confirmed the Seahawks have brought in at least three other free agents for visits--defensive linemen Jason Hatcher and Henry Melton and tight end Jermichael Finley. Hatcher, though, signed with Washington as the Seahawks declined getting into a bidding war, while Melton and Finley remain unsigned.

Melton, who visited Seattle late in the week, is reported to have a trip set to Dallas on Monday and is also considering Minnesota.

Thurmond, meanwhile, is the second cornerback the team has lost, the other being Brandon Browner, who signed last week with the New England Patriots.

The Seahawks played without each during a four-game span late in the season when they were suspended for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy, with Byron Maxwell and Jeremy Lane filling in alongside Sherman.

The Seahawks will apparently count on those three to lead the way at cornerback, also hoping to get something out of 2013 draftee Tharold Simon, who missed last season because of injury, and perhaps adding to the position through the draft or free agency.

In a tweet, Thurmond thanked the Seahawks for the opportunity--he was a fourth-round pick in 2010 out of Oregon--but that "unfortunately my time in the Pacific NW has expired. It's time for the next chapter in my book."

Thurmond battled injuries his first three seasons in Seattle and then missed the four games in 2013, playing in 34 regular-season games and starting eight. He also started the Super Bowl win over Denver when Seattle went primarily with its nickel package.